7 Best Lead Retrieval Apps for Trade Shows (2026)
Lead retrieval apps have replaced the clunky rental scanners that used to be your only option at trade shows. Now you can turn any phone into a badge scanner, capture business cards, and sync leads to your CRM without renting hardware or waiting in line at the exhibitor services desk. And if you end up with a CSV export that doesn’t match your CRM’s format, our free CSV formatter can remap the columns for you.
We reviewed the top lead retrieval apps to find the best options for different use cases. Here’s the quick summary: BoothIQ is best overall and particularly shines for field marketing teams running 10+ events per year. Popl is great for digital business cards, Mobly for SMB event teams, and Cvent LeadCapture if you’re already in that ecosystem.
| App | Best For | Price | Works Offline | CRM Sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BoothIQ | Field marketing teams | Free–custom | Yes | Yes |
| Popl | Digital business cards | Free–custom | Yes | Yes |
| Mobly | SMB event teams | Annual subscription | Yes | Yes |
| iCapture | Multi-show exhibitors | $8,000+/yr | Limited | Yes |
| Leadature | Large exhibitors | Custom pricing | Yes | Yes |
| CompuLead | CompuSystems shows | Per-event | Yes | Yes |
| Cvent LeadCapture | Cvent users | $250+/event | Unknown | Yes |
1. BoothIQ – Best for Field Marketing Teams
BoothIQ is the only lead retrieval app that works at every event without buying API kits or renting hardware. Scan any badge, business card, or handwritten name tag – then send a personalized follow-up email before you’ve left the booth.
That last part matters. Most apps stop at capture. BoothIQ’s built-in AI removes all the manual work. It handles transcriptions, summaries, and calendar invites pre-populated with context from your conversation. Follow-up emails are already written based on what you discussed. Review and make edits, or confirm and send with one tap. No more “I’ll follow up Monday” that turns into never.
Pros:
- No badge APIs or rental hardware – works at any event
- Follow up before context fades, not “I’ll email you Monday”
- Be present in conversations – AI takes notes so you don’t have to
- ROI tracking is automatic – no manual data entry, no lost leads (see a sample report)
- Works anywhere – show floor, happy hour, hallway
Cons:
- No Android app yet, but does offer a web app
- Newer to market – less track record than legacy providers
- No event registration features – built for exhibitors, not event organizers
- No physical NFC cards – focused on software, not hardware products
Key features:
- Universal scanning – anything with contact info written on it
- Instant follow-up – emails, calendar invites, one-pagers
- Voice recording with AI transcription and summaries
- Contact enrichment to fill in missing info
- CRM sync (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho) with event attribution
- Built-in event management
- Full offline mode
- Native iOS and web apps
Pricing: Free for individuals. Team plans billed monthly or annually. Custom pricing for large enterprises.
Best for: Field marketing teams attending 10+ events per year. One solution to manage events, capture leads, and ensure nothing gets lost in the chaos of the show floor.
BoothIQ is a universal lead capture app that integrates with your calendar and CRM, making follow-up and sales a breeze.
2. Popl – Best for Digital Business Cards
Popl started as a digital business card platform and expanded into event lead capture. If your team already uses Popl cards, the lead capture features integrate naturally.
Pros:
- Strong digital business card ecosystem
- High enrichment coverage (95% email match rate claimed)
- Your whole team can share a consistent digital brand
Cons:
- Originally built for digital business cards – lead capture came later
- Teams pricing requires contacting sales
Key features:
- NFC digital business cards for sharing contact info
- Badge and business card scanning with AI-powered OCR
- Lead enrichment powered by AI
- CRM integrations including Salesforce and HubSpot
- Lead qualifiers for capturing additional context
- 24/7 on-floor support
Pricing: Free tier for individuals. Teams pricing is custom – request a demo.
Best for: Teams who want digital business cards and lead capture in one platform.
3. Mobly – Best for SMB Event Teams
Mobly is a mobile-first lead capture platform built for small and mid-sized event teams. It focuses on getting leads from badge scan to CRM-ready with minimal manual work.
Pros:
- Strong CRM integrations
- Good for teams attending multiple events per year
Cons:
- Enrichment is slow – in our testing, some contact info took up to 12 hours to populate
- Some manual review still required
- No transparent pricing
Key features:
- Badge, business card, and LinkedIn profile scanning
- Data enrichment with 90%+ valid email yield
- Real-time CRM sync with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and others
- Offline capture with automatic sync
- Follow-up messaging (after enrichment completes)
- Dedicated human support team
Pricing: Annual subscription based on number of events. Contact for pricing.
Best for: SMB event marketers who want CRM-ready data and can wait for enrichment.
4. iCapture – Best for Multi-Show Enterprise Teams
iCapture (now owned by Cvent as of January 2024) is an enterprise lead capture solution for companies that exhibit at many trade shows per year. It offers both badge scanning and business card capture.
Pros:
- Works across multiple badge systems
- Part of broader Cvent ecosystem if you need event management tools
- 24/7 support and dedicated success manager
Cons:
- Expensive – $8,000/year minimum plus per-show API kit costs
- Overkill for small teams
Key features:
- Badge scanning with API kits for major badge providers
- Business card OCR scanning
- Customizable qualification forms
- AI-driven lead scoring
- Integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Marketo
- Dedicated success manager and 24/7 support
Pricing: Starts at $8,000/year. Contact them for a custom quote. Badge API kits are additional per-show costs.
Best for: Large enterprises exhibiting at many trade shows who want a consistent lead capture tool and have budget for per-show API kits.
5. Leadature – Best for High-Traffic Booths
Leadature is a veteran lead capture platform trusted by Fortune 500 exhibitors and event marketing agencies. It’s built for high-volume capture at large events.
Pros:
- Works at almost any event without worrying about badge compatibility
- See how your team is performing while the event is still happening
- Scale up without hitting usage limits
Cons:
- No public pricing
- May be more than small teams need
Key features:
- Badge scanning compatible with 50+ badge types
- Business card OCR
- Instant follow-up emails with attached literature
- Real-time analytics dashboards
- Direct CRM integrations with Salesforce, Marketo, and Eloqua
- Unlimited events, leads, and custom forms
Pricing: Custom pricing – available as event-based or annual licensing.
Best for: Large exhibitors and agencies managing high-traffic booths at major conferences.
6. CompuLead – Best for CompuSystems Shows
CompuLead is the lead retrieval app from CompuSystems, a major trade show registration provider. If your event uses CompuSystems for badges, this is often the official option.
Pros:
- Guaranteed to work seamlessly at CompuSystems events
- Access leads from previous events in one place
Cons:
- Only works well at CompuSystems-registered events
- Per-event pricing adds up if you attend many shows
Key features:
- Fast badge scanning with one-button capture
- Quick Scan mode for high-volume capture
- Lead scoring and custom surveys
- Electronic literature delivery
- Real-time lead access via myLeads portal
- View leads from previous events
Pricing: Per-event pricing (varies by show). Rental tablets available.
Best for: Exhibitors at events that use CompuSystems for registration.
7. Cvent LeadCapture – Best for Cvent Users
Cvent LeadCapture is part of Cvent’s event management suite. If you’re already using Cvent for registration and check-in, the lead capture integration is seamless.
Pros:
- Tight integration with Cvent event platform
- Lead data flows directly into your existing Cvent reports
Cons:
- Expensive for non-Cvent events
- Not sold standalone – requires Cvent ecosystem
- Overkill for smaller teams
Key features:
- Badge scanning synced with Cvent Event Management
- Manual lead entry for attendees without badges
- Lead rating and qualification questions
- E-literature delivery from the show floor
- Detailed analytics dashboard
Pricing: Starts around $250 per license per event. Part of Cvent Onsite Solutions – custom quotes for larger deployments.
Best for: Event planners and exhibitors already using Cvent for event management.
FAQ
What is the best free lead retrieval app?
BoothIQ and Popl both offer free tiers. BoothIQ’s free plan includes universal badge scanning and basic lead capture. Popl’s free plan focuses on digital business cards with limited lead capture features.
Can I use my phone as a badge scanner?
Yes. All the apps in this list work on smartphones. You don’t need rental hardware or dedicated scanners anymore – your phone’s camera handles badge scanning, business cards, and QR codes.
What’s the difference between lead retrieval and lead capture apps?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Traditionally, “lead retrieval” meant scanning official event badges with provider-specific hardware. “Lead capture” is broader – it includes business cards, manual entry, and any method of collecting contact info. Most modern apps do both.
Do lead retrieval apps work offline?
Most do. BoothIQ, Popl, Mobly, and others store leads locally and sync when you’re back online. This is critical for trade shows where wifi is spotty or nonexistent on the show floor.
What if my event doesn’t have scannable badges?
Use an app with business card scanning and manual entry. BoothIQ’s AI-powered scanner works with business cards, handwritten name tags, and even photos of LinkedIn profiles. You’re not limited to official badges.
Ready to capture more leads at your next event? Try BoothIQ free and see the difference universal badge scanning makes.
References
Pricing and feature information for competitors was gathered from official websites and third-party review platforms in January 2026.